Comments

Licensing and Compliances thereof are two different aspects and differs as per the size and format of the store. However, considering the hypermarket format of the business, below are the broad pointers which need to be covered.1. Shop and Establishment Act. Labour compliances which include licenses, necessary approvals as well as regular online compliances and maintenance of records and registers.2. Considering the Hypermarket format of the business also includes the FSSAI Act as well as Essential Commodities Act needs to be very clearly covered.3. Labeling and Branding Compliances as well as Legal Metrology Act need to be covered in detail including calibration and stamping of weights and measures.4. APMC guidelines and act as well as acts with respect to the regional requirements like Trade Unions, Mathadi etc needs to be covered.

Trust 201
1. How does self- evaluation effect audit stringency?2. Do CB audit against desired Stars OR is it that client is audited without prejudice to any star rating?3. Having obtained say 5 star initially but unable to maintain the same during annual audits … what it will be dealt with?

1. Self-evaluation is independent of final audit by CB. It not only provides transparency to the process but also allows retailer to know and prepare itself for the required Standards before final audit. The retailer would know its competence level before going for audit through self-evaluation2. CB’s audit would not be influenced by self-evaluation by retailer. It would be impartial and genuine as per laid down guidelines3. As per CC meeting on 8th Sep 2016:Fluctuations in the rating during the certification cycle –a. During surveillance audit there is possibility that an outlet shows drop in star ranking. Such outlet will be allowed a window of 30/60 days to correct its ratings through re-audit. If score improves the earlier rating will be reinstated. If score does not improve then the outlet would have lower rating as per audit findings.b. The above window is available to the retailer provided number of lower rated outlets do not exceed threshold of 30%. If retailer receives multiple ranking, lowest 30% ranked outlets shall be re-audited.

From the documents that IRF team has created one can understand the hard work done in the area of developing and adopting the right criteria for evaluation and certification of retailers. I am happy to see that the quality management systems and processes have been put on centre stage for achieving the tasks ahead.

We at BV have gone through all criteria documents as well a certification scheme. With many inputs such as assessment manday calculations, assessment costs, qualifications of personnel involved in audits and decision making….IRF has reached a stage of launching scheme within 17065 compliances by CBs.

From the documents that IRF team has created one can understand the hard work done in the area of developing and adopting the right criteria for evaluation and certification of retailers. I am happy to see that the quality management systems and processes have been put on centre stage for achieving the tasks ahead.

We at BV have gone through all criteria documents as well a certification scheme. With many inputs such as assessment manday calculations, assessment costs, qualifications of personnel involved in audits and decision making….IRF has reached a stage of launching scheme within 17065 compliances by CBs.